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OJJDP Observes the 49th Anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act

Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act 49th Anniversary, September 7, 2023

Join OJJDP in observing the 49th anniversary of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) and its impact on juvenile justice.

Signed into law on September 7, 1974, the JJDPA established OJJDP to support local and state efforts to prevent delinquency and improve the juvenile justice system.

In 2018, the Juvenile Justice Reauthorization Act reauthorized and amended the JJDPA. The legislation strengthens the four core requirements, mandates states to implement strategies to identify and decrease racial and ethnic disparities, and promotes alternatives to incarceration and family engagement.

In fiscal year 2022, OJJDP distributed more than $405 million in grant awards nationwide to support juvenile justice reforms, protect and empower young people, and develop effective and equitable juvenile justice systems. 

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Date Published: September 7, 2023